“I don’t play for recognition, I play for my team and the other guys who are putting this work in every week, that’s what I play for,’’ Pettigrew said. “I play for the wins.”

He has quietly had a good season and in some ways not everyone would expect.

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Pettigrew has been a key to the success of the running game.

“I think anybody that watches our run game sees a lot of things we do with (Pettigrew) off the line of scrimmage, just doing some dirty work when it comes to blocking,’’ coach Jim Schwartz said.

He used the example of Reggie Bush’s 39-yard scamper in Sunday’s win over the Bears.

“It was just a real simple play right up the middle and it was over our right side, which is (Larry) Warford and LaAdrian (Waddle) and I think a lot of people look at that as saying, ‘Oh, the two rookies made the play.’

“They executed their blocks, but the key block on that play was Pettigrew. Pettigrew’s the guy that has the hardest angle and got his guy blocked, and Reggie’s able to squirt through there and pick up a first down late in that game and set up that game-winning touchdown that we ended up scoring,’’ Schwartz said.

Against the Bears, Pettigrew also contributed with two explosive plays in the passing game — catches of 23 and 22 yards both on second-and-10s.

“He’s played very consistent for us. I think that’s really a testament to him. He kept his head down, kept on working, kept his confidence and I think we’re seeing the results of that, both in the pass game, but also in the run game too,’’ Schwartz said.

Pettigrew had eight drops and four fumbles (two lost) last season. At the start of training camp, he was clear that he had worked on that issue.

“I’m just trying to be accountable for the things I did wrong, be consistent this year and be a big-time player,’’ Pettigrew said. “I‘m not really thinking about last year this is a new year and we’ve moved on.’’

Through it all, quarterback Matthew Stafford never gave up on him.

Pettigrew is third behind Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush with 31 receptions for 295 yards and a touchdown.

The addition of Bush this season, creates a little more space for the 6-foot-5 Pettigrew.

“I’ll get a man match-up a lot of times because defenses are playing a safety over Calvin and cheating to Reggie,’’ Pettigrew said. “... It’s something we try to take advantage of.’’

Pettigrew is the only tight end left from last season. Tony Scheffler was released and Will Heller was not re-signed.

Rookie Joe Fauria is second on the depth chart. Rookie Michael Williams is on injured reserve and Martell Webb (Michigan) was added to the practice squad last week.

Fauria helps keep Pettigrew, who is just 28, feeling young.

“Definitely does, he’s a different guy, he brings some energy to this team and to our position room,’’ Pettigrew said. “He’s definitely good for the team he’s going to be a big-time player.’’

Pettigrew, a first-round draft pick in 2009, has seen the ups and downs in his Lions’ tenure.

This is new territory with the team in first place in the NFC North with a 6-3 record.

In 2011, the Lions started the season 5-0 and then went 5-6 the rest of the way.

Now is the time to prove if lessons were learned.

“We know what we’ve got, the guys here now we play with a chip on our shoulder,’’ Pettigrew said. “The mentality going into games, we play a lot different, guys are playing hard, guys are getting to the ball, the defense is swarming, making plays. There’s just energy, there’s energy on this team. That is something we’ve got to keep doing.’’

The next test is Sunday at Pittsburgh against the 3-6 Steelers who, like the Lions, have won three of their last five.

“Scott (Linehan) says it all the time — dealing with success is the hardest cause you’re winning. You have to figure out how to keep winning,’’ Pettigrew said.

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